Paper-towel-vending machine



sept 15; 1925. I 1,553,331

E. E. SHELLEY PAPER TOWEL VENDING MACHINE;

Filed July 18, 1922" 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qvwemtoz c2ga r E Shelley hiabhor/w Sept. 15; 1 925 v 1,553,331 E. E. SHELLEY PAPER TOWEL VENDINGMACHINE Filed July 18; 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 49m i. Shelley PatentedSept. 15, 1925.

UNITED SW53 PATENT orifice.

EDGAR E. SHELLEY, OIE NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE ECONOMY PAPERCOMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PAPER-TOWEL-VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed J'uly 18, 1922- Serial No. 575,863.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, EDGAR E. SHELLEY, acitizen of the United, States, and residing at Newark, inthe county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Paper-Towel-Vending Machines, of which the following isa specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art towhichit. appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for vending paper towels, napkinsand, the like, and particularly to machines of this class in which thetowels .or napkins are manually removed or vended from the machine bygraspinga projecting portion of the paper from which the towels ornapkins are formed and pulling on said paper to actuate the mechanismsof the machine; and the object of the invention is to provide a machineof the class and for the purpose specified comprising a simple, positiveand accurately operating mechanism for vending paper towels, napkins orthe like; a further object being to provide an improved paper cutter ortearing device for severing the separate towels or napkins from a rollof paper, said cutter or tearing device cooperating with a paper feeddrum, oran elongated aperture therein with means within the drum forcontrolling and regulating the operation thereof and with other means onthe drum cooperating with said cutter device for controlling theoperation thereof; and with these and other objectsin View the inventionconsists in a machine of the class and for the purpose specified whichis simple in T construction, efficient in use and which is constructedand operated as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which Fig. .1 is a front view of my improvedmachine;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional view through the machine with parts ofthe construction broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 a transverse sectional View through the machine, thesection-being partially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4- a partial transverse section on the line H of Fig. 2 with theparts in a different position; y

Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 1 but'showing the parts in a differentposition; and,

Fig. 6 a view similarto'Fig. 5 but showing the parts in a differentposition.

' My improved machine is what I call a free vending paper towel ornapkin machine and, in practice, I provide a suitable boxshaped casing10 which is closed at the sides, back, top and bottom, and the front ofwhich is closed by 'a door 11 adapted toswing upon a transverse rod 12and held in a closed position by a rod 13 passed through a beadedportion 14 at the top of the cover and through the sides of thecasing10, said rod being provided with a head 15 at one end and with a cotterpin 16 passed through the other end thereof. The bottom of the casing'lOis bent upwardly as shown at 17 in Fig; 3 of the drawing to form adischarge aperture 18 through which the paper 19 from a roll'20 isadapted. to pass.

The roll of paper 20 is'rnounted on'a heavy shaft or rod 21 which entersangularly arranged guide channels 22 on the inner facesofthe side wallsof the casing, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. of the drawing, andthe roll 20 of paper is adapted to rest upon the top of a feed drum 23,the

periphery of which is provided with a rough facing 24, such as emerycloth or the like.

endswithrcap"members 25 and 26 of openwork or web-like structure'andhaving central bearings through which a shaft 27 is passed'an'd on whichsaid drum is free to The drum 23 is hollow andprovided at its rotate.The shaft 27 ismounted in a frame 10 comprising'V-shaped side membersconnected by three rods 10", and this frame fits Within the casing 10and is detachably mounted therein and is keyed in position by recesses10 engaging projections 10? on-the inner faces of the sides of thecasing 10. The drum 23 is provided with an elongated aperture 28 at 'apredetermined point on the periphery thereof, the walls of said aperieoture being. reinforced by metal facing sheets a plurality of projectingannular flange members 30 cut away at intervals .and provided where cutaway with projecting pins 31. A shaft 32 is mounted longitudinally ofand in front of thedrum 23'and is rotatable in the sides of the frame10*, said shaft being provided with a cutterblade 33 having projectingteeth 34 and a central apertured portion 35, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing, and secured to theshaft'32 atone end.

thereof is a Geneva member 36 having four substantially arc-shaped or]concave surfaces 37 adapted to operate inconnection with the arc-shapedflanges on the member 25 of the drum, and in the corner portions of theGeneva member are three elongated aper- .tnres38 in connection withwhich the pins 31 are adaptedto operate for intermittentlyopera-tingsaid Geneva member and thecutter blade 33. I

Pivotally mounted in connection with the inner faces of the'sidew-alls'of the casing 10 are two lever arms 39, the free ends of whichcarry a tr'anverse roller 40* preferably composed ,of rubber, and thisroller is adapted to bear on. the periphery of the drain-23 "injuxtaposition to the shaft 32, and a spring 41 rs mounted on the slraft32 centrally thereof and cooperates with the 'r'oller 40-110 tensionallyhold said roller in engagement with the drum. n V I Secured to the shaft27 within the drum 23 andin juxtapositionto the cap member :26'thereofisfa cam '42 and pivotally mounted inconnecti on with the-member 26 is alever 43, which carriesa-roller 44 which operates in connection withthecam 42, and a spiral spring 45 isc'onnected with the shaft of theroller 44 and with the drum as shown at 46 and serves-to normally holdthe roller in engagement with the periphery of the cam 42 at .all times'Another lever 47 is pivoted to the member 26 asshow-n at 48 and isprovided with a spring 49 for normally holding the same? inenga-gementwith the free end of the lever 43, andsaid-lever 47 is provided with aprojection 50 adapted to engage a pin -51- .for intermittently ztrippingsaid lever or moving the same out vof engagement with the-lever 43-'as--her eina-fter setou't.

In the useof my improved machine, it will beapparent that the frame 10with the 51m and the parts'of the f drum as well :as the shaft 32-and.its parts is set in the easing er in the lower=portion thereof, atterwhich-the roller 4O is placed in position and a roll of paper 20.mounted in the casing with the free end thereof fed between the roller40 .and drum :23 and between the shaft 32 and ,said drum to the,position shown .i;n 1lig. 3aof,the drawing, or .projecting' slightlythrough the aperture 18 "after whichthe door 11 is closed in the mannerhereinbefore set out. The machine isv now ready for use and by pullingdownwardly on the protruding portion of the paper 19, the drum 23 willbe rotated in the first step of this operation, as indicated in Fig. 4of the drawing, in .which it will be noted that the shaft 32 has beenturned one quarter revolution by the engagement of one of the apertures38; of the Geneva member 36 with one of the pins 31, and it will also benoted that the-roller 44 on the lever 43 has been raised on the cam 42against the tension of the spring 45 and the lever 47 has droppedbeneath the lever 43 to take up the tension of the spring 45and'topermit of the free rotation of the drum by the paper. It beingunderstood that the paper is under slight tensionin the firstnamedoperation, or in the first step of the operation of rotating thedrum, the nexttwo steps is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing in which theGeneva member has been turned two-quarter revolutions by engagingtwoaother pins 31 on said drum and the drum has been moved into positionto bring the aperture 28 there- .ofin position to permit. of the passage.of the cutter blade 33 into the drum through said 3.5,

aperture, which operation cuts or tears the paper 19 over said apertureand dissects .the same from the remainder of the paper,v ex- .cept wheretheaperture 35 is locatedin the cutter blade. v V

In Fig. 6 ofthe drawing, I have shown the beginning of the last movementof the drum 23 and Geneva member 36 in which [the plain corner, orunapertured cornerof the Geneva member passes into one of the out awayportions of the flangeBO, which is shown at 52" Fig. I 3 'of the drawingand permits of the movement of the Geneva member back into the positionshown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and this last named operation alsoextends the"eut edge of the paper into-the position shown in Fig. 3, it'beingunderstoOd that the cam 42 and roller 44 operate 'toproduce thisresult. In the beginning of the I'last named operation as 1 hown inFigs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the lever 47 is moved out of engagementwith 'the le ver 43 to permit of the quick descent of said'lever on thecam, or the face of the cam 42 to impart a sudden rotary movement to-thedrnni, while the cutter blade 33 ,passes nto and out of theaperture28:of thedrum. It will also be apparent that onewall oftheaper'tu're of the drum aids in moving the 'cutter blade out of the:aperture 28 and in turning the Geneva member.

The above description completes one cycle of the operation of themachine, andfit will be understood that. every, timetheprojectingport'ion of the paper19 'is pulled through the machine, .apredetermined portion thereof will be cutoff :for use, andthe recess 53in the 'face of the 035 .42 w ll operate to retain the roller 44 thereinto hold the drumagainst movement, after the completion of one cycle ofoperation, it being understood that a decided pull is required on thepaper in order to raise the roller over the cam face from the positionshown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. p i By providing a transparentpanel 54 centrally of the cover member 11 the condition of theinachinemay be seen at all times and the time for replacing a new roll of paperdetermined Without I opening the door 11. lt will also'be apparent thatby providing the frame 1O as a unit for supporting the (111111123 andtheseveralparts mounted in connection therewith, as Well as the shaft 32and its-parts, the operative mechanisni'ot the machine may quickly andeasily be placed in position in the casing 10 or re moved therefrom forrepair orother purposesfand While- I have shown certain de tails ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, ltWill be understoodthat I am not necessarily limited to these details, and various changestherein and modifications thereof may be made, Within the scope of theappended claims, Without departing from the spirit of my invention orsacrificing its advantages. i i

"Having tully described my invention What ICllilll as new and desire tosecure by Letters'Pa'tent, is i 1." ADltlChillG of the class describedcomprising a suitable casing, a, drum'rotatably mounted therein andprovided With a longitudinal aperturein the-periphery thereof, means forsupporting a roll of paper in said casing in such manner as to "restupon the peripher of said drum, said paper being adapted to be passedover thedrum. and stretched across the aperture thereof at a delinitepoint'iii the revolutioiiof the drum, and normally extended'tliroughsaid casing, a cutter device mounted in juxtaposition to andlongitudinally of the'drum, and means for intermittently rotating 'saidcutter [device and for cutting that portion of the paper wvhichisstretched ovei the aperture of said drum byrapidly passing the cutterbladethrough said aperture. A machine of the class described comprisinga suitable casing, a drum rotatably mounted therein and provided "with alongi tudinal aperture in the periphery thereof, means for supporting aroll'of paper in said casingin such manner as torest upon the, peripheryof said 'druin,.said paper being adapted to be passed ,over the drum andstretchedacross the aperture thereof at a definite pointin therevolution vof the drum,

and normally extended through said casing,

a cutterdevice mounted in juxtaposition to and longitudinally of thedrum, IIIGHDSIfOl' intermittently rotating said cutter device and forcutting that portion of the paper Which is stretched over the apertureof said druinby rapidly passing the cutter blade through said aperture,said drum being rotated by a pull on said paper, and means cooperatingwith the drum for imparting sudden rotaryniovement thereto in theoperation of cutting said paper. T V

3. A'machine of the classdescribed com-y prising a suitable casing, adrum rotatably mounted thereinaiidprovided Witha longitudinalaperturerin the periphery thereof, means for supporting alroll of paperin said casing in such manner as to restiupon the periphery or" saiddrum, saidip'aper being adapted to-be passed over the drum and stretchedacross the aperture thereof at a definite point in tlierevolution of thedrum, and normally extended through said casing, a cutter device mountedin juxtaposition to and longitudinally of the drum, means" forintermittently rotating said cutter device and forcutting that portionof the paper which is stretched over the aperture of said drum byrapidly passing the cutter blade through said aperture, said: drumbeingrotated by a pull on said paper, meanscooperatingwith the drum forimparting sudden rotary movement thereto inthe operation of cutting saidpaper, and "a roller mounted longitudinally of and cooperating With saiddrum in juxtaposition to said cutter device for holding the paper infirm engagement with the drum. 7 1 Y y r 7 4:. A machine of the classdescribedcomprising asuitable casing, a drum rotatably mounted thereinand prOvidedWith a longitudinal aperture in the periphery thereof, meansfor supporting a roll of paper in said casing in sucli-maiiiieri as torest uponthe periphery of said drum, said paper being adapted to bepassed over the drum and nor mally extended through saidcasing, a cutterdevice mounted in juxtaposition to and longitudinally of the drum, meansfor iiitermittently rotating said cutter device and for passing thecutter blade thereof through the aperture 'ot said drum to cut that portionof the paper passed thereover, said drum being rotated by a pull onsaid paper, means cooperating with the drum. for imparting sudden rotarymovement thereto in the operation of cutting said paper, a. rollermounted longitudinally of and cooperating i with said drum-1njuxtaposition to said outter device, said drum and the parts cooperatingthereWit-hand said cutter device heing mounted in a framedetachablymounted in the casing. r 1 7 V i 5. The herein described meansfor cutting paper and like material coinprising 'a rotatable drum and arotatable 'cutterdevice mounted longitudinally of the drum and adaptedto cooperate therewith for cutting paper or the like passed over saiddrum between the same and said Gutter device,

said cutter device involving; a Genevaimembere cooperating with :saiddrum and ;ad apted to be intermittently. rotated thereby.

KSVA machine :of the class described comprisinga isuitaible casing, adrum motatably mountediinithe casing,-. a cutter blade mounted injuxtaposition 2to and'longitudinally of the :periphery o-fisaid drum and,adapted to cooperate with an aperture itherein, said cutter blade beingplaced in operativezc'onneotion with said drum ithrough 5a Geneva memberwhereby 'inithe vrotation o'f said drum, said cutterfllolade will beintermittently rotated. V

T7. A machine of the class desoribedcornprising a suitable casting, adrum rotatably mounted in the easing, a cutter blade mounted injuxtaposition to and longitudinally of I the peripheryof said drum andadapted to cooperate an aperture there in, said :cutter blade ibeing='placed yin operative connection-with said drum throu ghb Genevamen1ber "whereby in the rotation of said drum, fSitld cutter blade willbeintermittently rotated, and means involving a cam and spring -actuatedlevermounted within and to said drum, for imparting suddenrotarymovement thereto in aprodetermined course of'- one completerevdlution. a 1

8. A machine of the "class adescribed comprising a suitable casing,v@adru-m rotatably Inountedin said casing, means {for supportinge rollo-fpaper in said casing and to permit of -the automatic droppingof'saidpaper onto "the -'periphery of saiddrum, a cutter blade rotatably'mounted in the oasing in juxtaposition to and longitudinally of; saiddrum, one side of said cutter-blade being providedwith a *GGIIGVEL 1member and the corresponding side of said drum being provided i withtracks-[and pin members in connection with which said =Gre'neva mem-"b'er operates and by means of which said Geneva member and cutter bladeareinterunittently rotated in the 'rotati'on o'fzsa-id drrun and-sai ddrum being provided with a longitudinal aperture in connection withwhich the -cutter blade op er ates to "she arthe "paper passed betweensaid drum and cutter blade at each I revolution of said a drum. "9. Amachine of the class described comprising-a suitable casing, a drumrotatably mounted in said casing, means i for supporting a r-ell ofep'apergin saidcasingand to permit of the automatic droppingotsaid paperoia to the periphery of said drumya cutter blade rotatably mountedin-the -casi g in juxtaposition to and longitudinally of said'd*1}11111,..j0118 side ofsaid outterblade being provided-witha Genevamember and "the icorre'sponding side otsaid drumbeing prd Ivide d withtr aclgs; andpin inembers i n 'conrnectionwith wh chsard Geneva memberop- QWWS' and by means ozt which said-Geneva member and :-c.utter ibladegare intermittently rotated in ithe rotation; of i said idrumusaid drum:ab'eing: provided with a longitudinal aperturefinrconneotionwitlrwhichthe cutter blade-operatesstozshear sthe apaper passed-rho:tween said drum andcutter blade, at .each revolution of said drum, astationary mum mounted within said :drum, ,gand a ,member pivoted to:SBildldIllIXl; andnormal ly held an engagementwith,saidaoamthroughztensional means whereby suddenlmovementgisimpartedto said drumwhensaid cutterobla'de extends intoandi out. of :theaperture of said drum n 10.. A machine-of the class-described.:comprising :a. suitab1e casing, a drum arotatably mounted in .saidcasing,, means :for supporting ajrolliof; paper tinsaidicasinganda-topermit 04: the automatic sdroppingof said :paper onto the periphery. ofsaid. drum, a Fcutter blade rotatably .mounted in ithe..casing .injuxtaposition? to sand longitudinally of said drum, one, side ;Of saidcutter blade "being provided with a ,Geneva ,inemberahd thecorresponding side of said drumrbeiing proyi dedvwi'thtracksmnd pinamembers in connection with which said Geneva member operates "and:byimeans of which-saidiGeneva member and cutter blade are.intermittently rotated Pin :the rotation 03f said drum, zsaid drumibeingx-provided with a longitudinal aperture in connection withwhichlthie cutter blade "operates to :shearlthepaper ;.p'assed Joe-'tween said drum and cutter "blade at 7 each revolutionof said drum, astationary cam mounted :withinisaid drum, a member pivoted to said {drumandgnormally held in engagemen't with said cam through :tensi'on'almeans whereby ;a sudden unovement is imparted toisai'dl drum when saidcutter blade extends into and out ofithe aperture-of said drum,and-means pivoted to-sa'i'd drum and cooperating with said member forcontrollingthe-operati'on thereof.

.11. 'A machine of the class described comprising a suitable casing, adrum rotatably mountedin said casing,means for supporting a rollof paperin said casing and to permitof the automatic dropping oif saidpaper ontothe periphery of said drum, a cutter blade '-rotatably mounted in thecasing-in juxtaposition to v and 1 longitudin ally of said drum,one-sideof said cutter blade being provided with a Geneva member and thecorresponding side of said drum being pro- ;uided i th trackS and pinmembers inconnection with which said Geneva member 0perates and by-meansof which said Geneva meinbergand cutter blade-are intermittently rotatedfin i the rotation of said 'gdruni, --'s aid drum {beingprovi ded with alongitudinal aperture in a connectionwith-jwvl-ifich the cutter bladeoperates to shear;the paper passe(l between said drum and cutterblade-at each revolution of said'drun yastationary can;

mounted Within said drum, a member pivoted to said drum and normallyheld in engagement with said cam through tensional means whereby asudden movement is imparted to said drum when said cutter blade extendsinto and out of the aperture of said drum, means pivoted to said drumand cooperating With said member for controlling the operation thereof,and means for checking the rotation of said drum at each revo- 10lution.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname this 14th day of July 1922.

EDGAE E. SHELLEY.

